Name: edda
E-mail: Private
Date posted: April 10, 2010 - 12:05 pm
Message: You are a talented doctor and teacher, Dr. Dosa. You are also a gifted
storyteller. I loved 'Making Rounds'; I could not put it down. The
dialogue in your story is honest and true. In each chapter you provide
an artful sketch of individuals and families fighting the terrible
consequences of dementia. Your 'Afterword' is unforgettable.

The book brought back many memories of my parents in their last years.
My mother and I cared for my father at home as he suffered through
various mini-strokes. "Death by inches" is how the doctors described
it. Every TIA stole another part of the father I so loved and admired.

A few years after he passed, my husband and I started to care for my
mother at our home. Mom didn't like cats, but our wonderful black and
white cat, 'Runt', knew his place. Oscar's compassion so reminded me
of Runt. When mom came home from the hospital for the last time, we
were told she had some 7-10 days left. During the last 48 hours, Runt,
without fanfare or warning, simply curled up at the bottom of her bed
and did not leave, except to eat and tend to his business. When mom
died in my arms, Runt was there for the three of us.

Name: Patty
E-mail: Private
Date posted: April 10, 2010 - 05:24 am
Message: Dear Dr. Dosa,

I really enjoyed reading "Making Rounds with Oscar", when a book can get a emotional connection its a Great book! and thats what your book did.

My Mother had dementia for 5 years the last three spent in a nursing home. The only person she knew was my Dad. And she would keep calling for him. The first two years I would stay during the day and when Dad got off from work he would take over. She could be really mean. And the first time it happened to me thats when my Mom died. It wasn't my Mom in that body anymore. It really was really hard seeing her that way. She died in the hospital with all of us around her. She never opened her eyes the whole time. And after everyone left the room my Dad had stepped back in and he said her room was full of sunshine, when there was none before. That gave him some peace. Since then I worry about dying and not knowing my children. It is a hard to take when a parent does not know you. Since I have read your book I know now there are a lot more people going through what we did. Thanks for writing your book it gave me comfort.

Name: ep
E-mail: Private
Date posted: April 09, 2010 - 03:41 pm
Message: You are a talented doctor and teacher, Dr. Dosa. You are also a gifted storyteller. I read your book in a day. It was 'unputdownable!' I loved it; I'm happy for the book's success.

Of course, Oscar's photo on that wonderful and creative book jacket invited me to read on, and I was not disappointed. Each chapter is like a clear but soft charcoal sketch of the patients and caregivers you face everyday in your rounds. The dialogue is honest and true. The compassionate words you share with us in your 'Afterword' contain the best diagnosis and advice about this particular end-of-life disease.

As for Oscar - well, he so reminded me of our own black and white cat, 'Runt'. My mother was not a cat lover, and Runt knew his place. When mom came home to us from the hospital for the last time, my husband and I were told she had about 7 - 10 days left. During her last 48 hours, Runt curled himself up at the bottom of her bed, quietly and without fanfare, leaving only to be fed and and do his business. Mom died in my arms, and Runt was there for the three of us.

Name: Eileen Pinelli
E-mail: epinelli@aol.com
Date posted: April 08, 2010 - 04:04 pm
Message: Hi Dr. Dosa,
I am enjoying your book very much. I am a cat person who is also a petsitter for cats. Love hearing about the nursing home cats and I did a little bit of pet therapy at a nursing home. Very rewarding experience. I see your book also as a comfort and strength to families who suffer as a result of their
family members changing so drastically from the person they once knew. Thanks for writing this book.

Name: Kerisa
E-mail: Private
Date posted: April 03, 2010 - 06:23 pm
Message: First of all I am in the process of reading Making Rounds with Oscar. It is very moving and touching.

My family has 3 cats that live with us. About 10 years ago my husband, who has then in his early 30's, developed a bad case of broncitis and was in bed for nearly two weeks. One of our male cats curled up beside him after the first day and stayed there, only leaving to use his box. He(the cat) refused to eat. He became so weak he could barely walk. I had to start feeding him at bedside. They both eventually recovered and are doing well. Even to this day is my husband it sick this cat will not leave his side. One of our other cats is a female and she is the same way with me and my sons. The third cat is this way with my daughter. There have been many times over the years that the cat's behavior has alerted me that the children were ill even before they said anything.